Automobile switch



June 17 1924.

B. D. KUNKLE AUTOMOBILE SWITCH Filed July 5, 1920 IN VENTO R aga/zdff 1n/fle.

ATTORN WITNESSES:

Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED l STATES 1,497,688 PATENT voFFlcr-z.

BAYARD D. KUNXLE, OF MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE CASKEY-DUPREE MANU- FACTUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE SWITCH.

Application led July 3,

To all whom t mayoncem:

Be it known that I, BAYARD D. KUNKLE, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Marietta, `in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automobile Switches, of which the following isa specification. l

My invention relates to switching mechanisms for automobiles and particularly to switches for controlling lighting and ignition circuits.

One object of my invention is to provide a switch that comprises few and simple parts which may be easily and conveniently 16 assembled and which may be constructed with maximum economy of material.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch of novel and attractive appearance.

The switch to which the present invention relates is of th'e type that is ordinarily mountedon the dashboard of automobiles. Substantially all ,parts of the switch may be made from sheet material of ap ropriate character. The parts are so shaped and arranged that` there is practically no waste of material, the smaller parts being made from the unused portions of the material constituting the larger parts.

The face of the switch has an unusual and attractive appearance. The stationary portion is preferably nickel-plated while the movable handle, which is of pressed steel, is of black exterior. The contrast between the colors of the parts imparts to the switch a distinctive appearance.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a view, in front e evation, of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in rear elevation, of the switch of Fig. 1; Y Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section;

4 is a view, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, of the movable members of the switch;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views of movable contact members of the switch;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views of insulating members for supportingthe contact members; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively side and bottom views of the switch handle.

An instrument board 1 sup orts a switch 2 having a circular plate mem r 3 that may 1920. Serial No. 393,798.

be suitably secured to the instrument board I 1. A cylindrical casing 4, which is rigidly secured to the plate member 3, supports a base member 5 of insulating material.

A lighting switch comprises a movable handle 6,' an insulating switch actuating member 7, a .movable bridging member 8 and stationary cortact members 9, 10, 11 and 12 that are supported by the base member 5.

An ignition switch comprises a key-controlled cylinder 14 that is rotatably mounted within a stationary member 15, a disk 16, an arm member 17 a movable contact member 18 and stationary contact members 19, 20, 21 and 22 that are supported by the base member 5.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 10 and 11', it willbe noted that the handle member 6 is of hollow construction, it being pressed from relatively thin sheet steel. Two projections 24 extend into notches 25 in the supporting member 7. The projections 24 are each provided with two tongues 26 which are bent outwardly to secure the handle in place and assemble it with the switch carry- Ing the actuating members 7 upon which the tongues are clinched. Turning movement of the member 7 is limited by the shoulders 24 upon the projections 24, these shoulders bearing upon the actuating member 7 and being engageable with the motion limiting ends of the notches 25.

The bridging member 8, which is best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, consists of an annular ringI 27, of phosphor bronze or other resilient conducting material, and two pairs of arms 28 that are integrally formed with the ring and which are bent out of the plane ofA the ring 27. The arms 28 constitute contact members for engaging the stationary contact members 9, 10, 11 and 12. The member 8 is provided with two ears 29 that extend axially and project into slots 30 iu supporting member 7. The pressure of the resilient arms 28 against the base member 5 retains the bridging member 8 in engagement with the supporting member 7. The ring 27 with its arms 28 avoid the necessity of jumpers between the arms or jumpers between the complemental contacts on the base 5.

The cylindrical member 14, which may constitute the barrel of any suitable lock, is held in position by the handle 6. The member 14 has a projection 32 that coacts with a slot 33 in the disk 16 to rotate the latter.

The disk 16 is constructed from the central portion of the supporting member 7 and is disposed within a central opening 34 in that member. The disk 16 is provided with two slots 35 and 36 that are of diiierent dimensions in order to insure proper assembling of coacting parts.

The arm member 17 is provided with three projections 37 which respectively coact 4with a corresponding pair of holes 38 and a notch 39 in the contact member 18. The ends of the projections 37 are bent over to rigidly clamp the contact member. The arm member has two projections 40 and 41 which coact with, and correspond in size to, the slots 35 and 36.

The contact member 18, which appears into constitute contact members 43 and 44, re-

spectively. The intermediate portion of this ring, the portion that is between the spring arms or members 43, 44,- is assembled with the insulating mounting or actuating member 16 by means of the projections 37 whereby rotation of this ring portion is eiiected whenever the actuating member 16 is turned by the lock barrel. `The member 16, and the ring portion 42 together with its arms 43 and 44 thus have an axis of rotation which is coincident with the axis'of rotation of the lock barrel. The axis of the sleeve terminal 19 is coincident with the axis of rotation of the actuating member 16 and the. parts which move in company with it. The spring c ontact arm 43 is bulged or bent at one end, toward the base 5, `to form a segment 43 of a ball. This ball segment has its center in the axis of the terminal 19. The ball segment 43 is permanently seated in the hollow seat in the adjacent end of the contact member 19, and, as the center of this ball segment is in the axis ofthe terminal 19, the ring portion 42 is constantly maintained in electrical connection with the terminal 19 in all positions of rotary adjustment of the ring portion. As there is no bodily shifting movement of the ball segment 43 with respect to the. terminal 19 the number of connections is materially reduced from the number that would otherwise be required. The additional lcontacts being eliminated, jumper wires attendant thereto are also dispensed with. The contacts43 and 19 being constantly in engagement, the engaging surfaces thereof are maintained bright and clean. As `the ring portion presses the contact 43 upon the contact 19, the circuit connection at these parts is efectively maintained without the danger of leakage and-the presence of circuit interruptions due to poor mechanical assembly. Such circuit interruptions might give rise to heating action that would have an' untempering effect upon the ring portion. The contact member 19 (as is also the case with the other contact members 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21 and 22), being preferably in the form of an interiorly threaded sleeve, is adapted to receive a binding screw or other wire connecting means which may serve to connect a circuit wire with this member. The other end of the ring portion 42 also has a globular segment 44 bulged or bent thereon which is receivable in either of the terminal sleeves 20, 21 and 22 (each located upon one side of the terminal sleeve 19) when the actuating member 16 is turned to engage the contact 44 with the inner end of the selected one of these latter terminal sleeves.

The contact member 43 always remains in engagement with the stationary contact member 19 which is axially disposed with respect to the switch. The contact member 44 coacts with stationary contact members 20, 21 and 22 to connect the usual ignition coil to the magneto, ground or battery, respectively.

The lighting and the ignition circuits have been omitted as unnecessary to an understanding of my invention. .The several stationary contact members are designated by appropriate legends and it will be readily understood that, when the handle 6 occupies its oli position, the bridging member 8 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The contact arms 28 do not engage any of the stationary contact members. i

Whenthe lhandle occupies the position designated On, the contact members 9, 10 and 12v are bridgedlto connect the battery to the head and tail lights. The return circuit is through the frame of the vehicle.

Then the handle indicates Dim, the contact members 10, 11 and 12 are bridged to connect the battery to the side and tail lights.

In a similar manner, the cylinder 14 is rotated by the usual removable key to effect the connection of contact member 19 with either the magneto or the battery according as the contact member 44 engages contact member 20 or 22. In the olf position of the ignition switch, the coil is grounded through contact member 21.

` The switch parts may be taken out for.

inspection or repair by the simple act of removing the base member 5. v The handle and cylinder 14 may be removed by springing the projections 24 and 26 inwardly. The contact members may be replaced by simply dropping them in position and securing the base member in position.

The corresponding parts of the respective switches operate in substantially the same planes. They are concentrically disposed but may be operated entirely independently of each other.

The arrangement whereby the contact members are resilient is of advantage in that springs are eliminated. The provision of parts that may be pressed or stamped from sheet material greatly simplifies manufacturing operations. The concentric arrangement of corresponding parts ,permits economy of material.

The provision cfa black handle that operates over a highly polished surface enables its position to be easily perceived when the vehicle is used at night. In addition, this arrangement presents a pleasing appearance.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric switch including an insulating base; an actuating member mounted to turn withrespect to the base and spaced apart therefrom; a circuit continuing member in the form of a ring portion that is disposed in the space between said base and actuating member, said ring portion beingl assembled with the actuating member atan intermediate part of the ring portion which is defiected at its ends toward the base; a terminal sleeve upon said base co-axial with the actuating member, one end of said ring portion being bulged toward the base into a ball segment which is positioned to be and is permanently received into engagement with the inner end of said terminal sleeve; an additional terminal 'sleeve upon said base and located upon one side of the aforesaid terminal sleeve, the other end of said ring portion being also bulged toward the base to form another ball segment which is positioned to be and is received into engagement with the inner end-of the second` terminal sleeve and is movable out of such engagement withthis second terminal sleeve according to the adjustment of said actuating.member.

2. An electric switch including an insulating base; an actuating member mounted to turn with respect to the base and spaced apart therefrom; a circuit continuing member in the form of a ring portion that is disposed in the space between said base and actuating member, said ring portion being assembled with ther actuating -member at an intermediate part of the ring portion which is deflected at its ends toward the base; a contact upon the base and having a contacting face upon the inner side of said base and on the axis ofthe actuating member, one end of said ring portion being bulged toward the base into a ball segment which is positioned to be and is permanently received into engagement with the base contact which is formed with a hollow seat to receive this ball segment; anadditional contact upon the base and on one side of the aforesaid base contact, the other end of said ring portion being also bulged toward the base to form another ball segment which is positioned to be and is received into engagement with the second base contact that is formed with a hollow seat to receive this ball segment and to be moved out of such engagement with this second terminal sleeve according to the adjustment of said actuating member.

3. An electric switchl including an insulating base; an actuating member mounted .to turn with respect to the base and spaced apart therefrom; a circuit continuing member in the form of a ring portion that is disposed in the space between said base and actuating member, said ring portion being assembled with the actuating member at an intermediate part of the ring portion which is deflected at its ends toward the base; a contact upon the base and havinga contact face upon the inner side of said base and on the axis of the actuating member, one end of said ring portion being extended toward the base and which is positioned to be and is permanently engaged with said base contact; an additional contact upon the base and on .one side of the aforesaid base contact, the other end of said ring portion being also extended toward the base and positioned to be moved into and out of engagement with the second base contact according to the adjustment of said actuating member.

4. An electric switch including an insulating base; an actuatin member mounted to turn with respecty to t e base. and spaced apart therefrom; a circuit continuing member in the form of a ring portion that is disposed in the space between said base and actuating member, said ring portion being assembled with the actuating member at an intermediate part of the ring portion which is deflected at its ends toward the base; a terminal sleeve upon said base co-axial with the actuating member, one end of said ring portion being bent toward the base to form a contact which is positioned to be and is permanently received into engagement with the inner end of said terminal sleeve: an additional terminal sleeve upon said base and located upon one side of the aforesaid terminal sleeve, the other end of said ring portion being also bent toward the base to form another .contact which is positioned to be and is received into engagement with the inner end of the second terminal sleeve and 1s movable out of s uch engagement with this 'second terminal sleeve according to the adjustment of said actuating member.

5. An electric switch including an insulating base; an actuating member mounted to turn with respect to the base and spaced apart therefrom; a circuit continuing member in the form of a ring portion that is disposed in the space between said face and actuating member, said ring portion being ausV assembled with 'the actuating member at an intermediate part of the ring portion which is deflected at its ends toward the base; a contact upon the base and having a contacting face upon the inner side of said base andon the axis of the actuating member, one end of said ring portion being bent toward the base and positioned to be and being. permanently received into engagement with the base contact which is formed with a hollow seat to receive the ring contact; an additional contact uponthe base and on one side of the aforesaid base contact, Vthe other end of *said` ringportion being also bulged toward the base and bein received into engagement with the second base contact that` is formed with a hollow seat to-receive the second ring contact and to.

be moved out of such engagement with this second terminal sleeve accordin to the adjustment of said actuating mem er.

6. In a switch, the combination with complemental switch contacts; of an actuating member assembled with one of said contacts and mounted to turn; and a handle for said actuating member formed of sheet metal and provided with tongues that are clinched upon said actuating member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of June 30 BAYARD D. KUNKLE. 

